The Magician's Tea Party
Once upon a time, in a faraway kingdom called the Boring Islands, there lived a 14-year-old king named King Melancholy. King Melancholy had changed the name of the kingdom, which was once called Cheerful Island.
— Oh! Everything in this kingdom is boring and ugly. It's the most boring place in the world, I think.
His assistants and advisors tried everything to cheer up the king, but they couldn't.
— Five round islands in a row. If only a few of them were square, you know.
While the king was feeling sorry for himself, he heard a little girl's voice, singing a very strange song.
— Song, little song, don't wait, King Melancholy, come and play. Diri diri dam. Hurry, King! I have something nice to tell you. Ting-a-ring, a true king wouldn't make me sing all day.
Hearing the melody, the king was filled with excitement. He ran out of the palace, dashing towards where the song was coming from. At that moment, the little girl saw the king and ran towards him.
— You? Was that you singing? Where did you come from and who are you? — Oh dear! The King has so many questions! My name is Bright Eyes, and yes, I called for you. — Oh, but why did you call me? — The magician who lives a little further from here told me to sing you this little song. — I don't know any magician. — Seriously? Why are you still king? If you don't know everyone in the kingdom.
King Melancholy turned red with shame.
— Oh dear! You're not very happy, are you? — With such a boring and sad kingdom, why would I be happy? — What are you talking about? You have the most beautiful kingdom in the whole world! — Lies! Come with me to the hill and I'll show you my kingdom for real.
The Journey to the Magician
So, the two of them raced to the top of the hill and looked out over the entire kingdom.
— Sigh. Have you ever seen anything so boring? — Boring? Look how the sun shines on the cornfields, the beautiful red and blue flowers! — Red? Blue? All the flowers are grey. — Well, what about the sea? You must know it never changes. — Oh dear, what are you saying? But the sea has so many faces and just as many voices! — Are you... are you a witch somehow? — I'm not! But if I were, I would have helped you see things properly! You know what? How about we go to the magician and ask him to lift the spell from you?
King Melancholy didn't hesitate for a second and accepted. The two of them ran down the hill and arrived at the bank of an enchanted river.
There, a small, round boat was waiting for them to cross the river, and they jumped in.
— How fun this is! — You'll rock the boat if you don't stay still. Sit down! Let me row and I'll take you to the shore. — I must tell you that the magician gave me this boat, and it will always take you where you want to go.
The two of them sat in the sun while the boat slowly floated down the river, amusing themselves by putting both their hands in the water without falling in. When the boat stopped, they saw they had reached the shore, and a little further on was the magician's dwelling.
They both walked towards the cave, and seeing the door open, they entered.
— Wow! A cave!
When he got inside, the king was overwhelmed by the beauty of the cave, and as he looked around, he saw the magician sitting on a chair, smiling at them.
Bright Eyes ran towards him.
— I brought the king to meet you! You'll be a good magician and lift the spell from him!
The magician stood up and shook hands with the king, to make him feel at home.
— I'm glad you called me for tea, children, I don't like to drink it alone. Would you like to sit on the floor or should I summon a table?
Being bored of eating only at a table, the king chose to sit on the floor. But Bright Eyes wanted to see what would happen if they chose the table.
— A table, please!
The magician nodded and tapped the floor, and a small table with three chairs rolled into the room and stopped in the middle.
— Well, I didn't know tables and chairs could walk! — Why do you think they have four legs?
The magician lit the fire to make tea, and the two children found pretty dishes and tasty food in his cupboards. They were delighted to find the cupboard full of chocolate and plum cakes.
The tea party was delightful. The magician and the two children discussed all sorts of things while sipping hot tea and feasting on cakes.
Finally, they remembered why they had come to find the magician.
— Mr. Magician, I need your help. Something is wrong with the way I see things. — Indeed there is. The Sun Sprites threw dust in your eyes when you were a child, so you wouldn't see things in the same light as others. — Excuse me? Why did they throw dust in my eyes? — They weren't invited to your party when you were born. Sun Sprites don't like that. And only they know what needs to be done. The best thing you can do is go to their land and ask them to remove the spell. But remember, it's a long journey and certainly difficult there. — I'll go with you! I've always wanted to go to the other side of the sun. How can we get there, magician? — Well, you could do that by climbing a sunbeam, but I will send you in a flash of lightning.
The Land of the Sun Sprites
Then, he took a bag labeled "Storms" from the shelf and reached his hand into it. Bright Eyes moved closer to the king, and he took her in his arms to make her feel better.
— I've taken it with both hands, so it won't strike you as long as you treat it with kindness. Now, off you go in a flash!
But they didn't have time to see anything and found themselves on the other side of the sun. For a moment, they just lay where they had fallen, without moving. Then, they got up, looking around and rubbing their eyes.
— I had no idea it would look like this! — Well, what do you think?
A Sun Sprite was standing on its head, the Sun Sprites' favorite position when resting their feet.
— It's hazy, a yellow fog, isn't it? — I don't think it's fog, more like a dull light. — You're right! Only those on the front side of the sun call it fog, because they are blinded by their own sun. Here we are on the back side of the sun. — I think I prefer the bright sun. — How silly! In the land of the Sun Sprites, you have all the advantages of the sun, without sunstroke or burns. How strange that you don't see this, no disadvantages. It's your fault! If your friends hadn't thrown dust in my eyes, I would see the land of the Sun Sprites more brightly. — Oh, dear! So you've come here to remove the spell. However, nothing more can be done. So, you can go back. It doesn't matter if you see things wrongly. — But it really does matter! And that's why we beg you to remove the spell!
The Sun Sprite hopped from one foot to the other and came up with a solution.
— Hmm, there would be one thing. You must swap eyes.
The children looked at the Sun Sprite, then at each other.
— Very well! What do we need to do? — Quite simple. All you have to do is sincerely wish to have the king's eyes instead of your own, and that's all. — Oh dear! If I give her my eyes, she'll see things wrongly!
The king spoke too late. Bright Eyes already wished for the eye swap. And suddenly, her eyes turned blue, and the king's turned brown. The king was very annoyed with the Sun Sprite, while Bright Eyes laughed happily.
— Look what you've done! She'll see things wrongly for the rest of her life! — Don't be silly, child! Go home and try to see things properly!
A New Perspective
Before they knew it, they were on top of the hill, looking at the kingdom of the Boring Islands.
— Wow! Is this my kingdom? How beautiful! Look how the sun shines on the cornfields and the patch of blue and red flowers! Don't you think it's a beautiful kingdom?
